Trifter

Most of us know that some of the progression of the modern world also brought suffering to many. In Ontario, Canada there was a happening that meant the uprooting of many lives in the name of progression. These towns that once were are never to be seen again. Some may think it was a worthwhile cause while others may not have the same outlook, especially the ones that were affected by it.

In 1958 there were ten villages that were lost to Ontario for all time. This took place in the former township of Cornwall and Osnabruck which is today’s South Stormont. These villages were permanently submerged in order for the St. Lawrence Seaway to be born.

This submersion had nothing to do with catastrophes as we know them. This submersion was planned very carefully. In the weeks and months that followed up to these flood, families and businesses were moved to two locations which were the Long Sault and Ingleside. These negotiations did not go smoothly at the time due to the residents feeling that they were not sufficiently compensated for their land and houses.

The land market value had dropped already due to the knowledge of the Seaway that was planned so therefore the government paid only market value that was made at the time. As it has happened many times in the past the residents were ripped off by larger companies that wanted the land they owned.  Despite their objections the Seaway did happen.

There were other towns involved such as called Iroquois which was also flooded but this town was relocated just 1.5 kilometers north rather than being abandoned, Morrisburg did not escape water either and was partly submerged as well although with Morrisburg the town was just moved to higher ground before the submersion but was still in the same township. Ontario also lost part of the number 2 highway but was rebuilt along the Canadian National Railway site in the area.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

It was 8 AM in the morning of July 1st, 1958 that they released the waters behind the cofferdam allowing the waters to flood through these town sites and four days later the land was lost to the waters forever. There were parts of New York shorelines flooded in this same project but none of which any town sites.

Today there are still a few sidewalks and buildings foundation that can be found under the waters when the waters reside to lower levels. There are places where the land was so high that the waters couldn’t reach the tops and are now islands but are still connected to the Long Sault Parkway.  Today some of these places have become popular diving sites such as Lock 21 of the former Cornwall Canal which has since been replaced by the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

Image via Wikipedia

Today the Saint Lawrence Seaway has become an intricate part of everyone’s lives as thousands of ships pass through there with imports and exports from and to different countries so we may say it was a worthwhile cause. On the bigger scale of things we have to agree with the flooding of this land but for those that lived there all their lives and had roots there it may have a totally different story.